"Outside a dog a book is man's best friend, inside a dog it is too dark to read!" -Groucho Marx========="The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid." -Jane Austen========="I don’t believe in the kind of magic in my books. But I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book."-JK Rowling========"I spend a lot of time reading." -Bill Gates=========“Ahhh. Bed, book, kitten, sandwich. All one needed in life, really.” -Jacqueline Kelly=========

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

"Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he's pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he's never met."---from AmazonSimon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is by debut author Becky Albertalli and I simply cannot say enough good things about it. Simon is a typical teenager and the tone of the book is both appropriate and realistic for that age group. It is a wonderful coming-of-age tale, too.Simon is a not-so-out gay boy who is communicating with another boy at his school via a private email, set up just for it. When another boy finds the email and reads a few of the messages, Simon is afraid he will be outed so he goes along with that boys plans and schemes, even though he recognizes it as a form of blackmail. Like most teens, Simon just wants to have friends, do well in school, have fun, and get along. This potential outing is not in his plan and obviously rubs him the wrong way. At the same time, Simon does not know the identity of the boy with whom he is communicating via e-mail. He is ever on the lookout for signs as to his identification. As in most situations tensions arise with Simon's other friends as he struggles to gain some equilibrium in his life, yet in the long run his friends are very supportive.With LGBT issues in the forefront of the news today it is refreshing to read a book about a boy who just wants to live his life, have friends, and come out on his own terms. The email communication between Simon and the unknown boy are so sharp, funny, and revealing. It is not often we are allowed to see the inside thoughts of boys, gay or straight, in such a candid way. I enjoyed the book a lot and will recommend to all my teen readers this Fall.Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.